Show-case



(No Model.)

I'. X. GANTBR.

SHOW CASE.

1 vw. e w s d J i@ I b f m ..1/ u L WA 4 1, s d E ANTTnD STATES PATENT union.

FRANCIS X. GANTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 584,584, dated June 15, 1897.

Application filed March 19,1897. Serial No. 628,244. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS X. GANTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a speciiication.

The object of this invention is to provide a so-called all-glass show-case of improved construction-one which shall be devoid of either a wood or metal frame for confining the glass plates in position. By my improved construction the show-case will have no obstructions to a view of the articles in the case and will be much improved in appearance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lisa vertical cross-section of a showcase embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the dust-proof tubes and the bolt employed in the mitered corners. Fig. 3 shows a horizontalsection at a mitered corner of two glass plates and the dust-proof tube and bolt in said miter. Fig. a shows a Vertical section of one of the side plates and the top plate and shows the manner of attaching said parts. Figs. 5 and 6 show a modiiication in the means for fastening the parts at the vertical front corners. Fig. 7 shows another modication.

The bottom A is preferably made of wood. The front and end base-rail B may be made of wood or wood sheathed with metal, and the bottom and top rails G C of the sliding doors are preferably made of metal. All the remaining parts of the case are to b'e made of glass plate.

The metal door-frames have a bottom rail @,withtwo slide-grooves c?, of V shape or other equivalen t shape, anda downward flange e, extending as a facing along the edge of the bottom A. The top rail C has on its under side two slide-grooves d', also of V shape or other suitable shape, and on its upper side has a V-shaped longitudinal ridge f, a longitudinal iiange extending upward and also curving inward and forming an incurved hook g to engage the top plate, and a flat channel 7L between said ridge f and hook-flange g. The vertical outer side portion g', including the hook-ange g of the top rail, constitutes the exposed surface of said rail. Vertical bars close it.

I connect the said bottom and top rails of the door-frame. The two doors J, of glass plate, are without frames and have bottom V-shaped edges k and top V-shaped edges 7e" to fit the grooves in the rails, and said glass edges slide horizontally in contact with the metal grooves d dbf Of course the edges and grooves may vary from a V shape.

The front vertical glass side L and ends L likewise have their lower edge seated in a rabbet fm, formed in the base-rail B.

plate are mitered, as at n, and thus make a (See Fig. 3.) The face of each miter has a groove o eut in it, and when the miters of these two plates are brought together to form the corner the groove in one plate coincides in position with the groove in the other plate, and the two grooves thus coming together form a passage which extends up and down the mitered corner. A small tube p of sume material is then inserted along the entire length of this passage in the miter, and said tube serves to make a dustproof miter-joint. The tubes being incased in the glass miter are not noticeable to the casual view. 'i i The upper edge ofthe front glass side plate L (and upper edge of end plate also) is V- shaped or equivalent shape, as at q, and the top plate R has on its lower surface a V groove q', which sets down upon said V-shaped edge. This groove on the lower surface of the top plate extends all around near the four edges of said plate. That part of the groove near the back edge is designated by the letter q2. The top plate R at the front corners is drilled to receive a bolt s, which passes down through the said dust-proof tube p in the miter and through the base-rail B, and the lowerend of the bolt is secured by a nut p' below said rail. Thus the top plate is firmly held down at the front corners.

The back part of the top plate R, which connects with the top rail C', has on its under side the groove q2, before referred to, which takes down on the ridge f on the upper side of said rail,and said top'plate has on its upper edge a rabbet g2, which receives the inward hook-flange g on said rail. A iiat surface 7M on the under side of said top plate rests in the `fiat channel h on the rail. This construc- The i vertical corners of said side plate and end IOO tion of the hook-flange g and ridge f of top rail, combined with the rabbet g2 and groove g2 of the top plate, insures that said top plate R bored and have small screws t in said bored holes extending down into the top edge of the front side plates L, (or end plates LQ) as seen in Fig. 4.-.

I may dispense with the bolts s as a means for holding down `the top plate at the front corners and substitute the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 or that in Fig. 7.

The vertical side and end plates L L in the modifications will be initered, as already described. Instead of the bolt an angle-bar s will lit in the vertical corners. At its upper end this corn erbar has a metal corner-cap attached. This corner-cap has a bottom part u, which passes from the bar over the top edge of the two vertical plates L L', then an upward part a', which takes up the edge of the top plate, and then a top part u2, which hooks over onto the upper surface of the top plate. The lower end of the angle-bars may be secured in any suitable way to the baserail or bottom, and thus the top plate be rinly held down at the front corners.

Instead of a corner-cap having a top part a2 which takes over the top of the top plate the edge of said plate may have a groove at the corner and the corner-cap have a flange t to take into said groove, as seen in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a glass show-case, the combination of a metal top door-rail, C, having on its upper side a longitudinal ridge, f, and a flange eX- tending upward and forming an inturned hook, g; and a top plate having on its under side a groove, f', to take on said ridge and a rabbet which receives the said inward hool flange, whereby said top plate can shift neither backward nor forward norlift directly upward.

2. In a glass show-case the combination of vertical glass side plates and end plates, both of which are niitered to t together and form vertical corners, and the face of each miter having a groove, o, and the grooves on the two plates coinciding and forming a vertical passage in the initer-joint; a tube occupying said passage and aiding to produce a dustproof j oint; and means to confine the top plate down on said side and end plates.

3. In a glass show-case the combination of vertical glass side plate and end plates, both of which are mitered to it together and forni vertical corners, and the face of each miter having a groove, o, and the grooves on the two plates coinciding and forming a vertical passage in the miter-joint; a tube through said passage and aiding to produce a dustproof joint; and a bolt passing down through the top plate, through the said tube in the miter, and its lower end secured to the base, as set forth.

et. In a glass show-case, the combination of a metal top door-rail, C', having on its upper side a longitudinal ridge, f, and a flange eX- tending upward and forming an inturned hook, g; a top plate having on its underside a groove, q2, to take on said ridge and a rabbet which receives the said inward hookflange; and means at the front corners to confine the top plate down on the side and end plates, as set forth.

5. In a glass show-case the combination of vertical glass side plate and end plates, both of which are mitered to fit together and forln vertical mitered corners and have V-shape or equivalent shape top edges; a top back rail over the doors having on its upper side a longitudlnal ridge; and a flange extending upward and .forming an inturned hook g; a top glass plate having on its lower surface a groove extending all around near its four edges, said groove sitting down over the top edges of the three vertical plates, L, L', L@ and also over the ridge on the top back rail and the back edge of said top plate taking under said inturned hook; and means at the front corners of the top plate to hold it down.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

lVitnesses:

CHARLEs B. MANN, Jr., CHAPIN A. FERGUSON. 

